Roman Decorated Terracotta Fragment

With portion of original matrix and five rows of tesserae in grey, black, cream and white. 213 grams, 79 mm



Acquired Tunisia, North Africa. From a pre World War II collection, thence by descent. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK, formed since 1985.

In African mosaics, combinations of black and white and cream tessellated mosaics often form the borders of important mosaics, such as those of El Jem, representing the love between Satyrs and Bacchants, or the myth of Leda and the Swan.

Fragment of wall plaster with rendered surface painted red with yellow and white detailing to the edge; impression of timber laths to the reverse; old inked inscription: 'SIDI BOU ALI' to verso. 234 grams, 11.3 cm



Acquired early 1900s. Swiss family collection. Acquired at Birmingham Coin & Antiquities Fair, circa 2004. Ian Wilkinson collection, Nottinghamshire, UK.

The ancient city of Sousse (today Sidi Bou Ali) was the Roman centre of Ulssipira, famous for its wonderful mosaics. However, as across Roman Tunisia, remains of frescoed houses have also been preserved. The ‘Pompeian red’ was used for walls as well as columns, such as those in the ‘house of the red columns’, Acholla, where the peristyle was formed by a narrow courtyard with stuccoed columns painted red.

Comprising a trapezoid-section loop with running wave design and panther-mask terminals, tongue with ribbed oblong plaque and cut design; a rectangular plaque with extension to rear edge of two triangles and a semi-circle, decorated with bands of triangles, crescents, swirls and indented lines, extension with central gilt circle from which expands two triangular panels, filled with swirl design; rivet holes to the edge for attachment. 37.1 grams, 66 mm



UK collection formed in the 1980s. Ex property of a North London gentleman.